Audi's new performance crossover, the 2014 Audi SQ5, will require buyers to plunk down $52,795 (after an $895 destination charge) when it goes on sale this summer. Hitting 60 mph in a claimed 5.1 seconds, the SQ5 is the fastest version yet of the Audi Q5 crossover.

The key to that speed is a 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 rated for 354 hp and 347 lb-ft of torque, along with an eight-speed automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive. That makes the 2014 Audi SQ5 the most powerful version of the company's entry crossover. The Q5 is also offered with a 211-hp, 2.0-liter turbo-four engine; a 272-hp, 3.0-liter supercharged V-6; a 245-hp hybrid; and the upcoming 240-hp Q5 TDI diesel.The crossover gets visual upgrades in line with other Audi performance products, including 20- or 21-inch wheels, aluminum mirrors, quad exhaust tips, sportier front and rear fascias with platinum gray trim, leather and Alcantara sport seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and gray instruments with white needles. The 2014 Audi SQ5 also has a unique feature owing to its practical nature, wherein the stability control system becomes more lenient when the roof rails are unused. In other words, remove the bike rack before heading to your favorite twisty road or track.

The price tag makes the 2014 Audi SQ5 the most expensive version of the two-row crossover. The 2014 Audi Q5 2.0T starts at $38,195, after an $895 destination charge. The Q5 3.0T starts at $45,295,the Q5 TDI is $47,395, and the Q5 hybrid costs $52,195.The 2014 Audi SQ5 is a fair bit more expensive than comparable German SUVs, although both BMW and Mercedes-Benz lack a direct performance-oriented rival to the SQ5. The 300-hp BMW X3 xDrive35i costs $45,625 after a $925 destination charge, while the 302-hp Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic is $39,995 after a $905 destination fee.